"priestcraft" meaning in English

{
  "etymology_templates": [
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        "2": "enm",
        "3": "priestcraft"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English priestcraft",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "priest",
        "3": "craft"
      },
      "expansion": "priest + -craft",
      "name": "suffix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English priestcraft; equivalent to priest + -craft.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "priestcrafts",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-",
        "2": "s"
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      "expansion": "priestcraft (usually uncountable, plural priestcrafts)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "66 34",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
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          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "72 28",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -craft",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "68 32",
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          "_dis": "79 21",
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      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 172:",
          "text": "One of the most complex of all the poems in the mythological cycle is \"Inanna's Descent into the Nether World.\" This work does not have the air of a dairymaid's song but rather seems to be an expression of priestcraft, astrology, and an investigation into the nature of time.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The craft of performing the duties of a priest."
      ],
      "id": "en-priestcraft-en-noun-Bfx0M0-g",
      "links": [
        [
          "craft",
          "craft"
        ],
        [
          "priest",
          "priest"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "uncountable",
        "usually"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1681, John Dryden, Absalom and Achitophel:",
          "text": "In pious times, ere priestcraft did begin, before polygamy was made a sin",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1831, The Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 26:29",
          "text": "He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion."
        },
        {
          "ref": "1891, Horace (Horatio) Smith, Address to a Mummy",
          "text": "Perhaps thou wert a priest,--if so, my struggles / Are vain, for priestcraft never owns its juggles."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Priestly policy directed towards worldly ends."
      ],
      "id": "en-priestcraft-en-noun-7sGBzHrF",
      "links": [
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          "derogatory",
          "derogatory"
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        [
          "Priestly",
          "priestly"
        ],
        [
          "policy",
          "policy"
        ],
        [
          "worldly",
          "worldly"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(derogatory) Priestly policy directed towards worldly ends."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "derogatory",
        "uncountable",
        "usually"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "priestcraft"
}

{
  "categories": [
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    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms inherited from Middle English",
    "English terms suffixed with -craft",
    "English uncountable nouns",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries"
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "priestcraft"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English priestcraft",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "priest",
        "3": "craft"
      },
      "expansion": "priest + -craft",
      "name": "suffix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English priestcraft; equivalent to priest + -craft.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "priestcrafts",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-",
        "2": "s"
      },
      "expansion": "priestcraft (usually uncountable, plural priestcrafts)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 172:",
          "text": "One of the most complex of all the poems in the mythological cycle is \"Inanna's Descent into the Nether World.\" This work does not have the air of a dairymaid's song but rather seems to be an expression of priestcraft, astrology, and an investigation into the nature of time.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The craft of performing the duties of a priest."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "craft",
          "craft"
        ],
        [
          "priest",
          "priest"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "uncountable",
        "usually"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English derogatory terms",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1681, John Dryden, Absalom and Achitophel:",
          "text": "In pious times, ere priestcraft did begin, before polygamy was made a sin",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1831, The Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 26:29",
          "text": "He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion."
        },
        {
          "ref": "1891, Horace (Horatio) Smith, Address to a Mummy",
          "text": "Perhaps thou wert a priest,--if so, my struggles / Are vain, for priestcraft never owns its juggles."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Priestly policy directed towards worldly ends."
      ],
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          "Priestly",
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          "worldly",
          "worldly"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(derogatory) Priestly policy directed towards worldly ends."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "derogatory",
        "uncountable",
        "usually"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "priestcraft"
}